Tagged: asia

September 17, 2025 @ 10:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Pakistan’s  Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has issued a call to global cryptocurrency firms to apply for local licenses. The initiative, announced by the finance ministry, aims to integrate Pakistan’s expanding crypto market—estimated to serve 40 million users—into the global digital economy. This development signals… Read More

September 8, 2025 @ 10:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has taken significant steps to bolster Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for sustainable finance, with two key initiatives announced in September 2025. The launch of a public consultation on the Phase 2A prototype of the Hong Kong… Read More

September 7, 2025 @ 3:24 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Sora Ventures, a Taiwan-based venture capital firm specializing in digital assets, has launched Asia’s first $1 billion Bitcoin (BTC) treasury fund. Announced at Taipei Blockchain Week, the initiative is backed by an initial $200 million from institutional investors across the region, with plans to acquire… Read More

August 21, 2025 @ 8:01 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Stripe has reportedly introduced over 50 upgrades to accelerate global growth for Asian businesses. The announcements were shared at Stripe Tour Singapore 2025, “where over 1,300 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and developers gathered for the company’s annual conference in Southeast Asia.” Updates included: Stripe Reader S710, Stripe’s… Read More

July 27, 2025 @ 5:20 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Citigroup has released a comprehensive report outlining its strategic vision to enhance remittance services across Asia. As Asia remains a critical hub for global remittances—accounting for a significant share of the $700 billion global market—Citi’s report highlights approaches to address consumer and business needs, leveraging… Read More

July 8, 2025 @ 1:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announces a key senior leadership appointment in Japan, as the firm continues to expand its footprint in the market and strengthen its commitment to Japan. Muneya Taniguchi will join as Vice Chairman of Japan and Executive Advisor to lead the firm’s expansion, focusing… Read More

July 2, 2025 @ 8:21 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Global investment major KKR has launched Ascend Asia Financial Services Group, a new financial advisory platform based in Singapore, according to an announcement. It also simultaneously announced the acquisition of Singapore advisory firm finexis and its affiliates. The acquisition, made through funds managed by KKR,… Read More

June 23, 2025 @ 5:08 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The global economic landscape is undergoing significant shifts, with Asia’s export markets and the transformation of cross-border payments taking center stage. Recent insights from Citigroup highlight two critical developments: the potential for an export payback in Asia and the ongoing migration to the ISO 20022… Read More

June 14, 2025 @ 12:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In today’s financial landscape, Citigroup’s insights shed light on two critical areas shaping global markets: the transformation of asset servicing and the economic dynamics of Asia’s export-driven economies. These reports offer a look into the forces driving post-trade operations and the potential risks facing Asia’s… Read More

June 8, 2025 @ 3:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Philippines and India are accelerating efforts to strengthen collaboration in financial technology and broader development cooperation, as both nations seek to harness digital innovation to drive economic growth. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto recently held talks with Indian Ambassador Harsh Jain to identify new avenues… Read More

June 7, 2025 @ 5:25 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Artificial intelligence is playing a growing role in the way consumers shop across Asia Pacific, with more than a third now relying on AI tools to assist with purchase decisions, according to Adyen’s 2025 Annual Retail Report. Based on a survey of 41,000 consumers in… Read More

May 30, 2025 @ 3:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Payment technology firm, Tribe Payments, has announced a strategic partnership with global Treasury Operating System (TOS), Finmo, to deliver integrated, end-to-end payment and treasury services to banking and fintech clients across key growth markets – notably Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Europe. The partnership combines Tribe’s issuer… Read More

May 22, 2025 @ 3:28 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Asia Pacific’s commercial real estate market posted a strong start to the year, with investment volume rising 11% year-on-year to US$33 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to CBRE’s latest Asia Pacific Cap Rate Survey. The bi-annual report captures investor sentiment, cap rate… Read More

May 7, 2025 @ 11:03 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Tether, which claims to be the largest company in the digital assets industry today, announced it has created a native deployment of Tether’s USD₮ on the Kaia blockchain. LINE NEXT Corp., LINE’s venture dedicated to developing and expanding the Web3 ecosystem, and Kaia, a public… Read More

April 12, 2025 @ 5:51 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong Investment Corporation Ltd (HKIC) and fintech platform WeLab announced a strategic partnership to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven financial services, aiming to promote digital financial inclusion across Asia. The collaboration will enable WeLab to expand its exploration of AI applications, including developing innovative AI… Read More

March 30, 2025 @ 6:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Asia-focused alternative investment firm PAG has reportedly closed its third fund dedicated to Significant Risk Transfer (SRT) deals, raising $1.25 billion from investors looking to tap into bank loan portfolios. This milestone underscores the growing appeal of SRT as a financial instrument that bridges the… Read More

February 23, 2025 @ 5:15 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Nikko Asset Management (Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. together with its subsidiaries), one of Asia’s asset managers, and Tikehau Capital, the alternative asset management group, announce the incorporation of Tikehau Amova Investment Management Pte. Ltd., their joint venture focused on developing private asset investment strategies…. Read More

February 22, 2025 @ 5:55 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong is mulling over the approval of new cryptocurrency and virtual assets products, including derivatives and margin lending, for select investors, as the city seeks to bolster its position as a regional digital assets hub. The move, outlined by Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)… Read More

February 9, 2025 @ 12:09 pm By Michael Wong  |  

According to recent research by UnaFinancial, the total volume of Asian Fintech transactions reached $16.8 trillion in 2024, marking an increase of $2.1 trillion from the previous year. The report noted that Asia accounted for 48.2% of the global fintech volume, which totaled $34.8 trillion… Read More

January 13, 2025 @ 10:39 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The IMF has shared an update / analysis on how artificial intelligence will affect Asia’s economies. According to the blog post from the IMF, AI may widen inequality, but policymakers can “counteract this with more effective social safety nets, reskilling programs, and regulations to promote… Read More